Method of reducing metals.



rarnur enrich ER 'UBEBI Ii. BIOMTT, 03' means FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO ROE-SSLEB A311) GWCAL comm, 0F NEW YQBK, It. Y., A CORPORATION BF NEW Patented lday 3i, laid.

nassracnnn roan.

nnrnon or sarcoma nurses.

pgg gg, Specification or Letters Eatent. Ho amt-m Application as sepamber a, race. Serial in. 516,819.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that l, Roma" J. Elohim, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Niagara Falls, county of Niagara, and State of :hlew York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Methods for Reducing Metals, of which the following is a specification.

7 My invention relates to a new method for reducing metals and consists in dissolving, alloying or chemically combining the metal which it is desired to reduce, with another metal or mixture of metals, which latter metal or mixture of metals shall be volatile only at higher temperatures and lower pressures than the metal it is desired to reduce, subjecting the resulting solution alloy or chemical compound to the action of heat under a low pressure as in cacao or under reduced pressure in the presence of inert gases, driving ed the more volatile metal and condensing the same as desired. The heat may drive ofi all or part of the metal desired leaving behind the less volatile parts which may be used over and over again. The metallic vapors distilled over may be condensed and collected in that physical state and at that temperature most'favorable for futureapplication or use. By this method many metals may be profitably separated which under normal atmospheric or higher pressures can not be obtained at all or only with great dilliculty.

As an illustration showing one way of practicing this method I shall describe the reduction of metallic sodium from its compounds, such as sodium chlorid, although of course, the method is not restricted in its application to use in connection with any particular metal.

. The sodium is first separated from the chlorid and alloyed with lead, tin or a mix ture of these or other suitable metals, in any convenient manner such as by electrolizing the sodium cblorid, using the alloying metal as a cathode, as is shown in the Aclrer ?atent. No. 823,692, dated April 25, 1899 for example. The alloy in such case is conveyed to orplaced in any suitable receiver, sub-' ected to reduced pressure by means of a suitable pump in the well known manner, and heated by any convenient means to a de vgree sufiicient to drive ed the more volatile sodium which may be condensed and drawn oft in any state or condition desired, the lead or other alloyed metal remaining behind,

being returned tothe electrolytic furnace ling oil" the sodium and returning the remaining less volatile metal or metals to the furnace. In this case but little heat will have to be supplied to the receiver' as the temperature of the alloy in the furnace is usually about 800 C. while sodium in cacao boils oil readily below 806 (1, it being necessary simply to maintain the temperature while reducing the pressure.

The advanta e of the method is apparent when it is reca led that from alloys of such concentration as can conveniently be made, sodium, by simple distillation, can be driven ofi' at an appreciable rate only at temperatures well above the point of fusion ofcast iro'n. Hence in the practice or my new method not only is there a saving from the fuel standpoint but also from the standpoint ofefiecting the separation by the use of simple apparatus of cheap material. By properly selecting the temperature of distillation not merely the pure metal but any desired mixture or alloy can distilled over.

in some cases it is obvious that the impurities might be removed by distillation, leaving the metal desired behind and i do not restrict myself to the practice of the method as described, the reverse of the method also coming within the scope of my invention;

1 am aware that metals have been separated from alloys, etc. by distillation and do not claim such, my invention residing in separating the metals by distillation at reduced pressure either in vacuo or in presence of inert gases.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters hatent is 7 1. The method of reducing a metal from its compounds which consists in dissolving, alloying or chemically combining said metal with another metal or mixture of metals less volatile than the metal desired, submitting the resultant solution, alloy or compound to a pressure lower than that due to the atmos phere and to a temperature suitable for the distillation of the metal desired.

2. The method of reducing a metal fromits compounds which consists in dissolving, alloying or chemically combinin said metal with another metal or mixture 0% metals less volatile than the metal desired, submitting the resultant solution, alloy or compound to a pressure lower than that due to the atmosphere and maintaining the same at a temperature suitable forthe distillation of the metal desired.

3. The method of reducing a metal from its compounds which consists in dissolving, alloying or chemically combining saidmetal with another metal or mixture of metals less volatile than the metal desired, submitting the resultant solution, alloy or compound to a pressure lower than that due to the atmosphere, maintaining the same at a temperature suitable for the distillation of the metal desired, redissolving, realloying or chemically recombining a fresh supply of the metal desired with the residual metal and indefinitely repeating the operation substantially as described.

4. The method of reducing a metal'from its compounds which consists indissolving, alloying or chemically combining said metal with another metal or mixture of metals of different volatility from that of the metal desired, submitting the resultant solution, alloy or compound to a pressure lower than that due to the atmosphere and maintaining the same at a temperature suitable for the separation of the metals from each other by distillation. 1

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT J. McNITT. Witnesses:

J. CLoYD Downs, Howann E. Ba'rsronn. 

